Surya to Invest $500,000 in The New Home of The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame

Furniture World News Desk on 6/7/2021

Surya has committed to a $500,000 investment in the Building Fund of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame to demonstrate its long-term support and commitment to the industry. The one-stop resource for fashion-forward rugs and accessories, based in White, Ga., will name the Presentation Staircase in the heart of the new building. 

 “This is an opportunity for us to be a part of a project that is history in the making. This will be our White House, our symbol of leadership,” says Satya Tiwari, president of Surya. “I am so honored to play a part in building a foundation that will inspire generations of future industry leaders, their families and their employees.”

“During my 17 years at Surya, I have learned so much from many of the great retailers and wholesalers in this industry,” he says.  “In a way, they have collectively helped me shape the direction of Surya and there is no better way for us to express our appreciation and gratitude.  This will be a state-of-the art venue where all of us can continue to come together to celebrate successes, preserve our history and share ideas.”

The Presentation Staircase is a dramatic architectural feature that leads up from the Celebration Hall to the Leaders Board Room.  Light floods in from the clerestory architecture above, like a spotlight shining down on its wide and deep steps. Both gracious and spacious, it has been created to serve as seating with cushions or for display. It will make a grand entrance for a special event.

“Satya’s passion and appreciation for the industry were evident, and it is very important to him to do something that would support bringing the industry together,” says Karen McNeill Pond, Hall of Fame CEO. “He asked many questions but kept coming back to making an investment as a statement of his appreciation to the industry.”

Capital campaign donors include: The Wanek family and Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.; Surya; Bill and Carolyn Hinks, Furniture Mart USA; Surya; International Market Centers; Lacquer Craft USA; Manwah Holdings; Neil and Robin Goldberg, Raymour & Flanigan Furniture; Rooms to Go; Karen McNeill and Stephen Pond; The Broyhill Family Foundation; Bill and Candy Fenn; Roger and Martha Bland; Michael Amini , AICO; Keith Koenig, City Furniture; Chad Spencer, Dufresne Spencer Group; Hooker Furnishings Corporation; Amini Audi, L. & J.G. Stickley; Bill and Julia Wittenberg; Schwarz Properties; Jake Jabs, American Furniture Warehouse; Hassell Franklin, Franklin Corporation; Patrick Cory, Joseph Cory Holdings, LLC; Markor International Furniture; Nebraska Furniture Mart; Nourison Industries; The BB&T Foundation; the DRIVE Foundation; The Furniture Foundation; Mickey Holliman, Five Star; David Gebhart and Frederick Raynor, Global Views; Havertys Furniture Companies; Skipper Holliman, Jr., HomeStretch; Amir Loloi, Loloi Rugs; Martin and Mary Ann Ploy; Phillips Collection; Prestige Arts/Art Trends; Jeff Child, R.C. Willey Home Furnishings; John Bray, Vanguard Furniture Company, Inc.; Lawrence Rogers; Lyle Harris, Behold Home; J. Don Coleman, Coleman Consulting LLC; Bruce and Kena Cohenour; Andrew Bernstein, FurnitureDealer.Net; Bill and Sue Kimbrell; Norwalk Furniture; Jim Sneed, Affordable Furniture; Bobby Bush; Randy Coconis, Coconis Furniture; Julius M. Feinblum Real Estate, Inc.; The Ina Mae Kaplan Historic Preservation Fund; Don Belgrad; Jerry Epperson; New Atlantic Construction; Will Somers; Imogene Zimmerman and Guardian Protection Products, Inc.

 
About Surya: Surya is the premier one-stop source for coordinating home accessories for a broad range of lifestyles and budgets. An expert at translating the latest apparel and interior design trends, Surya artfully combines color, pattern and texture to offer more than 60,000 fashion-forward products, including rugs, pillows, throws, wall decor, accent furniture, lighting, decorative accents, and bedding. The brand also provides innovative display, merchandising and training solutions to support retailers in successfully promoting and selling home accessories. Surya has showrooms in Denver, Boston, Dallas, High Point, New Delhi, and Toronto. For more information, visit www.surya.com.

About The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc.: The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation is an industry-wide organization founded to preserve its history, to celebrate exceptional individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the U.S. home furnishings industry, and to inspire a new class of innovation and leadership. Membership includes eligibility to nominate candidates for consideration by the Selection Committee, and the opportunity to help preserve the history and heritage of the industry. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, funds support our history and leadership programming. The organization currently is based in High Point, North Carolina, at 202 Neal Place, Suite 101, and can be reached at 336.882.5900. Watch for ongoing developments and details about the grand opening of a new permanent home, which is targeted for 2023.